| Show I THE NAVAL WHISTLE In January last the cruiser Brooklyn struck on a ledge as she was leaving League Island navy yard to go out to sea She had only been placed In commission com-mission a short time before which seemed to make the accident more re gretable than I otherwise would have been Her builders the Cramps of I Philadelphia naturally had a great interest in-terest in her and in a burst of enthusiastic I I I enthu-siastic patriotism they telegraphed the secretary of the navy that they would gladly repair the vessel fre A day or so after the offer they modified I say ng that If the cruiser were towed badk to their shipyards they would make all repairs for the actual cost of the work and material An examination of the vessel revealed that several plate wer torn off some of the ribs bent and I sore other sligt damage done Naval officers estimated the cost of the repairs I at 8000 to 10000 Finally thecrulsgr I I was sent to the Cramps shipyards I repairs though the iflicer in charge of the League Islam eavy yard and other naval cfficers tVere opposed to sending her The vesssi yas placed in dry dock by the Cramps in February I and only came out a few days ago And I the Cramps who repaired herJhave I rendered a bill to tha government for 138000 The navy department is upset in consecuence of the same There is no denying that the siim Is a pretty large one and the repairs mayor may-or may not be worth I but the country coun-try has determined on having a big navy though it does come high If warships war-ships are built and then bumped on submerged rocks they must be repaired and these repair are expensive We are getting our naval whistle but it begins to look a though we were paying pay-ing too much for It |
